The 3rd ASEAN-Canada Dialogue was held on 14 – 16 June 2006 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. The Meeting was attended by representatives of ASEAN Member Countries, Canada and the ASEAN Secretariat.

The Meeting was co-chaired by Pengiran Dato Paduka Osman Patra, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Brunei Darussalam, and Mr. Arif Lalani, Acting Director General of Asia South and Pacific, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Canada.

In his welcoming remarks, Pengiran Dato Paduka Osman Patra stated that the significant developments in the dialogue relations over the last year marked an important step forward in forging a closer ASEAN-Canada relationship. Canada’s interest and efforts to further promote the relations, in this regard, was very much appreciated. He also hoped that both sides would take every opportunity to work closely on matters of mutual interest, including in the areas of trade and investment, disaster management, as well as in fighting transnational crimes and addressing health threats. The proposed Joint Declaration for Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism would contribute towards an enhanced political and security cooperation. Similarly, the ASEAN-Canada Joint Cooperation Work Plan would provide a good basis for a more extensive cooperation between both sides. As this would be the last dialogue meeting to be co-chaired by Brunei Darussalam, he expressed his gratitude for the support received from ASEAN Member Countries and Canada and wished Viet Nam success as the incoming Country Coordinator.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Arif Lalani paid tribute to His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Honorable Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade 2. He also thanked his co-Chair, Pengiran Dato Paduka Osman Patra, for his warm welcome, and for Brunei’s leadership over the past three years as Canada’s coordinating country for ASEAN. Canada sees the ASEAN-Canada Dialogue as an opportunity to further express its genuine commitment to deeper and broader cooperation with ASEAN. He highlighted the progress on the ASEAN-Canada Joint Cooperation Work Plan and the Joint Declaration for Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism as signs of Canada’s committed engagement with the ASEAN region. He highlighted that while there have been positive inroads over the past year, there are other areas where ASEAN and Canada should explore further cooperation, such as interfaith dialogue. He hoped that these meetings would continue the excellent discussions that took place in Vancouver 2005, and that Canada looked forward to working with Viet Nam over the next three years as Canada’s new coordinating country.

ASEAN briefed Canada on the outcomes of the 11th ASEAN Summit and First East Asia Summit (EAS) held in December 2005 in Kuala Lumpur. ASEAN also informed Canada on the progress in implementing the measures to realise the ASEAN Community, through the Plans of Action of the political and security, economic and socio-cultural pillars and through the implementation of the Vientiane Action Programme (VAP). Canada welcomed the positive developments in ASEAN, especially the efforts towards strengthening regional integration and narrowing the development gaps.

ASEAN briefed Canada on developments with respect to accessions to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), particularly, highlighting France’s decision to sign the Treaty in 2006. ASEAN encouraged Canada to consider acceding to the TAC in the near future.

The Meeting exchanged views on developments in the Korean Peninsula and recognized the impact of the nuclear issue on peace, stability and security in the region. The Meeting emphasized the importance of the Six Party Talks in finding a peaceful and comprehensive solution and the development of a consensus strategy to denuclearize the Peninsula which all six parties agree is the objective of the talks. The Meeting also emphasized the importance of encouraging a supportive role of the ASEAN Regional Forum, including, in addressing the humanitarian aspect of this issue. The Meeting also welcomed the positive developments in the inter-Korean talks.

The Meeting was of the view that a comprehensive, durable and just resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is important in creating peace and stability in the Middle East. It expressed support for the full implementation of the Road Map and relevant UN resolutions, including the establishment of a Palestinian state existing side-by-side with Israel within secure and recognized borders.

On Iran’s nuclear programme, the Meeting called on all parties to show restraint and settle the issue through dialogue and peaceful means. The Meeting also hoped for a resumption of negotiations and to enhance cooperation with the involvement of all necessary parties to promote international confidence with the view to facilitating the International Atomic Energy Agency’s work on resolving the outstanding issues. The Meeting further emphasised that the Agency should continue its work to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue within its mandate under the Statute of the IAEA.

On Iraq, the Meeting expressed serious concerns over the continued acts of violence, especially on the implications it had on innocent civilians and Iraqi authorities. The Meeting called for an increased effort to restore peace and stability in Iraq and hoped for all parties to complete the successful political reconstruction in that country.

The Meeting exchanged views on the challenges posed by natural disasters and expressed condolences to the governments and people of the countries that have been affected by such disasters in recent years. In light of the earthquake in Jogjakarta, the Meeting noted with appreciation the generous assistance offered, including by ASEAN Member Countries and Canada. In this regard, the Meeting discussed the need to enhance cooperation on disaster risk management and emergency response, while ensuring complementarity with activities already undertaken at the United Nations (UN) and in other multilateral and regional fora. The Meeting also discussed the importance of promoting disaster risk reduction in disaster-prone countries in the region.

The Meeting discussed ways of enhancing cooperation to fight transnational crimes, including, trafficking in persons, and money laundering. Technical assistance and capacity building, in particular to ASEAN Member Countries, were identified as ways in which these problems could be dealt with effectively.

ASEAN and Canada strengthened their commitment to counter terrorism through the proposed Joint Declaration for Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism. Both sides discussed the importance of taking a consistent and collaborative international approach, based on agreed common institutions standards and values including tolerance and respect for diversity, human rights, human security, good governance and the rule of law. The Meeting welcomed the significant initiatives undertaken by ASEAN and Canada in the effort to counter terrorism, including progress in implementing the relevant conventions, protocols and United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions as well as relevant counter-terrorism UN conventions and protocols. The Meeting noted that existing regional and international institutions, such as the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Bangkok, the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter Terrorism (SEARCCT) in Kuala Lumpur, and the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC) could play an important role in the effort to effectively combat terrorism and transnational crime.

The Meeting discussed cooperation in the fight against HIV/AIDS. ASEAN called upon Canada to support its efforts to develop consensus and awareness on the Third ASEAN Work Plan for HIV and AIDS (AWPIII), which would be presented at the 12th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit scheduled in Cebu, Philippines in December 2006. The Meeting commended Canada’s contribution to the Global Fund for the Prevention of Malaria, Tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. The Meeting also highlighted the XVI International AIDS conference, which will be held in Toronto from August 13-18, 2006.

The Meeting emphasized the importance of promoting closer cooperation to deal with and prevent the spread of communicable diseases such as avian influenza, including through the training of personnel, establishment of information sharing system and coordination of national pandemic preparedness plans. Canada commended efforts of countries in the region to overcome this disease, including identifying ways for an enhanced response, and noted the outcome of the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Special SOM on Avian Influenza Pandemic Preparedness in Bangkok on 8 May 2006.

ASEAN informed Canada on its economic outlook, trade and economic relations with trading partners, and developments in its regional economic integration processes, both internally and externally. Canada welcomed the strengthening of economic and trade cooperation under the framework of ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) and advancing economic partnership with its other Dialogue Partners through the various FTAs. ASEAN and Canada exchanged views on the possibility of closer economic cooperation particularly, in the 11 priority sectors of the ASEAN Economic Community, which would contribute positively to the economic growth of both sides.

The Meeting discussed the progress in the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations and emphasised the importance of a successful and ambitious outcome to the Doha Development Agenda.

The Meeting recognised the role of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in promoting prosperity and fostering economic cooperation in the region and looked forward to the successful outcome of the APEC Leaders Meeting to be held in Ha Noi, Viet Nam in November 2006. The Meeting welcomed the interest of ASEAN Member countries who are non-APEC members to join the forum.

On the future direction of ASEAN-Canada relations, the Meeting discussed ways to develop cooperation such as in the areas of Islamic banking, information communications technology (ICT), human resources development (HRD) and health care. It was felt that more could be done to promote ASEAN-Canada relations through cultural awareness and cooperation, particularly, those which involve people-to-people contact engaging ordinary people such as youth, students, academics and parliamentarians. The Meeting welcomed the offer by Brunei Darussalam and Canada to explore the possibility of organizing an interfaith dialogue.

The Meeting looked forward to the signing of the proposed ASEAN-Canada Joint Declaration for Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism and the adoption of the draft 2005-2007 ASEAN-Canada Joint Cooperation Work Plan. The Meeting agreed that the two documents would serve as a basis for more intensified cooperation between both sides. The Meeting also emphasized that efforts to implement the documents should take into account of the need to undertake region-wide cooperative activities, including, in the area of capacity building.

The Meeting was briefed on the endorsement of the ASEAN candidate for the position of United Nations Secretary General, Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai. ASEAN requested for the valuable support of Canada for the ASEAN candidate and also acknowledged Canada’s efforts in trying to introduce greater transparency in the UNSG selection process.

The next ASEAN-Canada Dialogue would be held in Canada in early 2007, at a date to be announced.

The Meeting expressed its appreciation to the Governments of Brunei Darussalam and Canada on their excellent leadership for the ASEAN-Canada relations over the last three years. The Meeting thanked the Government of Brunei Darussalam for its warm hospitality and for the excellent arrangements extended throughout the Meeting. The Meeting was conducted in a spirit of cooperation and cordiality under the chairmanship of Brunei Darussalam and Canada.